Planes on her flight Note the Volkswagen and other vehicle on the 01 deck midships. 1964. She arrived on PIRAZ (positive identification and radar advisory zone) station on the 30th, and continued on that vital operation throughout most of her WestPac tour. An undated photo prior to her launch. Essex-Class Aircraft Carriers: The U.S. Navys Best Flattop. Vice Admiral Hyman G. Rickover; The GMLS Mk 12 was used aboard USS Albany, Chicago, Columbus, and Long Beach. Copyright 2023 HullNumber.com. Task Group of Nuclear-Powered Surface Ships operating in formation The following 4 photos identify all the antennas on the Long Beach. In July 2012,Long Beachwas sold at auction for recycling. is maneuvered in Dry Dock 3 at the South Boston Annex of Boston Naval The U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN-9) underway off Oahu, Hawaii (USA), 9 May 1973. This touching USS Long Beach Navy Westpac Cruise Book 1969-1970 depicts the pride and drama of life during this Westpac mission: Hardbound cover with paper dust-jacket, large 9 x 12 format. It marked the final end of the worlds first nuclear-powered surface warship. As of May 2018, a 423 foot section of the propulsion block remains at PSNS. USS Long Beach CGN 9 , Military Gifts and more at PriorService.com Largest Selection for Military Veterans on the Web! During her service, Long Beachhad thehighest bridge structureof any warship smaller than an aircraft carrier. This means that symptoms must be present within 1 year of service on the ship, not necessarily a diagnosis. She returned to Norfolk 20 December for coastal and Caribbean operations through 28 April when she sailed for the Mediterranean to join attack carrier ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65) and guided-missile frigate BAINBRIDGE (DLGN 25) in the formation of the first all nuclear powered task group 13 May. As an experimental platform,Long Beachwas the only ship of her class. We can help you understand how the U.S. Navy used asbestos in building ships and in producing equipment destined for at sea activities. Naval Base Subic Bay, during the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo. HullNumber.com does not retain your payment information if you make a purchase. In November and December 1965 in company with Valley Forge LPH-8 she provided gunfire support for two Marine amphibious landings. Call Sign: November - Zulu - Xray - Bravo 97855), March 1968. During the tour, there were numerous foreign people of influence that visited the ship, particularly when it was docked in ports from Africa, but also New Zealand and Brazil. Frigate ahead of Long Beach could be a ship of Pakistan Navy. USS O'Bannon DD450-2. Photo #rg19nn-b1579-001-031_pr from Record Group 19 at NARA II. 13 May 1986 11th West Pacific deployment. Photo #330-PS-9583 (428-GX-USN 710480) From Record Group 428-GX at guided-missile cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN 9) moored to a pier She awaits dismantling at PSN, Bremerton, WA along with her sister nuclear powered Cold Warriors. Technical Features of the USS Long Beach (CGN-9) Class and type: Long Beach-class cruiser Beginning 5 January 1985 the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile system was installed with two 4-cell Armored Box Launchers on the fantail, with the Harpoon launchers resited. Docked at Hobart, Australia during Christmas 1987. powered, rocket firing, plane and submarine hunting cruiser--was floated Sept 2002 Removal of superstructure, nuclear fuel removed. She was reclassified CGN 160 in early 1957, but was again reclassified as CGN 9 on 1 July 1957. She was reviewed by President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson during this time. USS Nautilus The missile cruiser had a complement of 1,160 officers and sailors. She was the first nuclearpower surface warship in history. Center #NH98108. The ships are the aircraft carrier on 11 March 1970. In 1979, the USS Long Beach began to show age, and her weapons were upgraded to better withstand the evolving threats of the Cold War (1947-1991). Members of Enterprise's crew are in a flight deck formation spelling Starboard bow view, underway, date unknown. [8], Long Beach returned to Norfolk from this cruise 3 October 1964 to join in exercises off the east coast and in the Caribbean. USSLong Beach, which was the third ship to be named after the California city, was laid down in December 1957 and launched in July 1959. Note that the AN/SPS-33 antennas have not yet been installed This tour of duty in WestPac ended with her arrival again at Long Beach on 16 November, where she remained into 1969. Long Beach is about to receive her bow at Quincy, MA in May JTKAMERICANAINC From shop JTKAMERICANAINC. The ship was placed in commission in September 1961 with Commander Eugene Parks Wilkinson in command and Mrs. Marian Swanson-Hosmer as a sponsor. In 1991, she fought with her sister ship, the USS Missouri, in New Jersey, during the United States' involvement in the Gulf War. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Vessel and Station Log Books at the National Archives, Office of Naval Records and Library (Record Group 45), chronological list by date of first log entry, Logs of the Military Sea Transportation Service and Military Sealift Command, Deck Logs, M/V Georgia (Registry No. June 1976. VIETNAM WAR UNITED STATES ARMY MILITARY VETERAN UNIT & OPERATION SHIRT (#231964527319) to her move to Boston for her commissioning. USS Long Beach (CGN 9) is about to enter Mare Island Channel Battle Group Romeo (during USS Long Beach WestPac cruise - 13 May to 24 October 1986), USS Wabash (AOR 5) If you contact a Shipmate through HullNumber, your email address is not displayed in the message to your Shipmate. This will provide you with a URL that can be saved as a bookmark or electronically shared with others. Select from premium Uss Long Beach of the highest quality. Vessel and Station Log Books at the National Archives, Deck Logs, M/V Georgia (Registry No. Captain Fred L. Ruhlman, Commandant, Boston Naval Shipyard; It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information. FREE shipping Add to Favorites . In 1985, support for the aforementioned Tomahawk cruise missile was added, giving the U.S. Navy ship considerable long-range land attack capability, and the following year she sailed in the Western Pacific with a U.S. Navy battle group that included the famous battleship USS New Jersey. Iwo Jima Class Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter): Laid down, 1 April 1960, at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA. [20], A crew member aboard the USS Long Beach may have been exposed to abnormal levels of radiation in 1963,[21] and the ship was leaking radioactive coolant in 1991. deck include 9 A-5, 22 A-4; 10 F-4; 14 F-8 and 2 E-1 types. first fighting ship of its kind in American naval history--a nuclear USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN-600) Service Years 1970 - 1974 1974 Hennek, Gregg M., AA NEC AA-0000-Airman Apprentice . USS Mahopac ATA 196. Vietnam War: View of USS New Jersey Iowa-class battleship during Family Day at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Note that the Talos launcher has been replaced by Harpoon launchers. Shipyard Banner Shortly after commissioning, USS TRUXTUN departed Camden, New Jersey on 3 June 1967 for her maiden transit to the West Coast and her new homeport . 28 May 1991 14th West Pacific deployment in support of Operation Provide Comfort. Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 of time and may or may not be correct. Keel of the guided missile cruiser Long Beach (CGN 160) at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, circa December 1957. Our earliest Navy Log is a photostatic copy of the original log of Continental Schooner WASP with start date of March 9, 1776. Location: Norfolk, VA, Date: 14-20 September 2020 in the Mediterranean Sea, 18 June 1964. Seeking deck log of USS Pennsylvania (BB - 38) for 1925, Seeking Vietnam Deck Logs of USCGC Yakutat (WAVP-380), Find answers to your research questions at, How to File a FOIA Request for Archival Records. 5 June, 1972, rescue (HC-7 No. National Security. 75" triple torpedo tubes (Mk 46 torpedo family). Due to the expense of operating a nuclear-powered warship and the massive military disarmament following the end of the Cold War (1991), all further plans for the modernization of the USS Long Beach were delayed until cancelled outright. Port bow Aerial view while underway in Massachusetts Bay on her first Service To Year: 1930. The photo below wase taken by Michael Jenning and shows the remaining hull of the LONG BEACH laid-up at Bremerton, Wash., on October 13, 2017. Stan Gottfredson [citation needed], The high box-like superstructure contained the SCANFAR system, consisting of the AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 phased array radars. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Contact Us USS Long Beach (CLGN-160/CGN-160/CGN-9) was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser in the United States Navy and the world's first nuclear-powered surface combatant. To support Task Force 77 (Operation Pocket Money), at daylight on May 9, Task Unit 77.1.2 a destroyer strike force struck the Haiphong Harbor air defense batteries with a 30-minute . Early History of USS LONG BEACH: Partners Long Beach deployed throughout the 1980s, conducting Tomahawk cruise missile test launches and exercises. Support of operations against North Vietnam, March 1970 - late 1971: ROH at Mare Island NSY, PIRAZ duty off Vietnam, LONG BEACH downed several enemy planes and rescued 17 US pilots, December 1975 - June 1976: Puget Sound NSY, January - April 1979: Mid-Life Conversion Phase I at Puget Sound NSY, Rescued 114 refugees ("boat people") off Vietnam, October 6, 1980 - March 26, 1983: Mid-Life Conversion Phase II. In 1968, she killed at least two enemy MiG fighter jets with her missiles, and she and her crew responded to no fewer than seven engagements in total, while engaging in "friendly matches" with her own attacks. History & Memorial Site, Mrs. Craig Hosmer, wife of Congressman Hosmer of California, christening the. [3] She was the third Navy ship named after the city of Long Beach, California. 2 July 1994 Deactivation ceremony, Norfolk Naval Station. Every effort has been made to list the This next deployment began when she once again left her home on 15 April 1968. Camp Lejeune Lawsuit. 2 x C1W nuclear reactors power 2 x GE turbines producing 80,000 hp on 2 x shafts. Moody, Raymond, MM3 NEC Status USN Veteran Primary Unit . During the course of the 1960s and early 1970s, the frequency of individual personnel being identified in deck logs for any reason (whether reporting aboard, transferring to another command, sustaining wounds, or being subject to disciplinary action) steadily declined. Viewed Nuclear power had been deemed too expensive to use on surface ships smaller than aircraft carriers in view of defense budget cutbacks after the end of the Cold War. Columnar data during this period includes wind direction and speed, barometric pressure, air and water temperature, general state of clouds, weather . Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim USS LONG BEACH was laid down as CGN 9, 2 December 1957 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Mass. [citation needed] Port quarter view while moored in Subic Bay, Philippines The ship was the first nuclear-powered surface combatant in the world. An Essex-class aircraft carrier, USS Shangri-La (CV-38) entered service in 1944.One of over 20 Essex-class carriers built for the US Navy during World War II, it joined the US Pacific Fleet and supported Allied operations during the final phases of the island-hopping campaign across the Pacific. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for USS Missouri FDC - 10.27.1945 - Navy Day - F52350 at the best online prices at eBay! Aerial view of the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN 9) underway in 1965, location unknown. She sailed 28 February 1966 for her new home port and namesake, Long Beach, California, and arrived 15 March 1966. Please enter degrees and decimal minutes. During the deployment, the ship mainly operated as the Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) unit while located in the Gulf of Tonkin. [12], Long Beach was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and home ported at Naval Station Norfolk. Captain Edgar H. Batcheller, Supervisor of Shipbuilding at the Quincy 13 January 1984 10th West Pacific deployment. . Her final assignment was to assist U.S. personnel in the evacuation of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. Named in honor of Commodore William Bainbridge, she was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Your ORIGINAL HOMETOWN and State are asked for because that confirms who you are in your shipmate's memories. San Diego, CA, 9 April 1983 - Aerial port bow view of the nuclear-powered Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 The two 5-Inch/38 gun mounts which were installed midships courtesy of Bill Gonyo), Contact Name: Mr. Don Shade Weve built this interactive map to determine if your ship was inside the zone. On 7 November the nuclear-powered cruiser USS LONG BEACH got underway from Long Beach, California, on her sixth WestPac. 18 September 1989 13th West Pacific deployment/world cruise. Lyons. 29 April 1980. Nautilus was at the shipyard for inactivation. It is hardly news nowadays that exposure to asbestos-containing products will cause the human body much harm, yet just a few decades back workers from all the major industries in the United States regularly came into contact with the toxic mineral as part of their daily routine. Capt. MK-10 Terrier missile launcher and two AN/SPG-55 fire control She was reclassified CGN-160 in early 1957, but was again reclassified as CGN-9 on 1 July 1957. After the ship had been in a period of upkeep, the Long Beach departed in November 1966 to Far East waters. USS LONG BEACH served her country for 33 years, 7 months and 22 days, until decommissioned on 1 MAY 1995. She was the third Navy ship named after the city of Long Beach, California. U.S. Navy photo, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. 3/15/66, Shellback Initiation - 6 JUN 1966 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 10 APR 1967 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 10 AUG 1968 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 16 NOV 1969 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 19 DEC 1969 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 4 JAN 1975 - Indian Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 25 JAN 1975 - Indian Ocean, evacuation of vietnamese refugees vung tau vietnam. [15] She also directed other MIG kills by American fighters. She was the sole member of the Long Beach-class, and the last cruiser built for the United States Navy to a cruiser design; all subsequent cruiser classes were built on scaled-up destroyer hulls (and originally classified as destroyer leaders) or, in the case of the Albany-class, converted from already existing cruisers. 11/12/2018 In August 1962 ENTERPRISE joined the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, and made its second and third deployments to the Mediterranean in 1963 and 1964. From that position,Long Beach maintained constant radar surveillance to ensure that the North Vietnamese intruder aircraft couldnt evade identification and attempt to confront U.S. strike aircraft. Technology. This operation, Sea Orbit, reminiscent of the cruise of the Great White Fleet in 19071909, demonstrated the strategic mobility of U.S. naval nuclearpowered surface forces independent of normal fleet logistic support. The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and . Meritorious Unit Commendation * 19 November 1966 - 8 June 1967. To do . this entry. Location: Brookfield, WI. She was the third Navy ship named after the city of Long Beach, California.. She was the sole member of the Long Beach-class, and the last cruiser built for the United States Navy to a cruiser design; all subsequent cruiser . The Standard SM-2ER missiles and the associated modern electronics replaced the obsolete Terrier system. In the course of the voyage, numerous foreign dignitaries visited the ship during visits off both coasts of Africa and in-port calls at Karachi, Pakistan; Melbourne, Australia; Wellington, New Zealand; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The summer of 1966 was spent in training and orienting midshipmen in the tactics and operations involved in the modern nuclear Navy. However, the space was eventually occupied by the 5"/38 caliber gun mounts and the ASROC system. in October 1991. 8 April 1992 Comprehensive overhaul, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We stationed ourselves north of the carriers, about 50 miles off the coast of Haiphong, NV. Tactical Voice Radio Call: "ALCOA". The first ever "kill" of a hostile aircraft by a missile fired from a ship occurred on May 23, 1968. ship made a stop in "Ironbottom Sound" on 23 April for a memorial service commemorating the battles fought and lives USS Hammer DD 718. Enter the coordinates that you want to check. No. Shipyard on 7 July 1961. 9 January 1985 Selected Restricted Availability at. On April 19, 1972, the guided missile frigate Sterett shot down a MiG-17 with a Terrier missile. October 1991. 2 x "Terrier" missile launchers (dual launchers). Now a Senior Editor for 1945, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. We are looking at the nuclear. Rear Admiral Ralph K. James, Chief, Bureau of Ships; If you have already submitted a claim for disability due to the exposure while serving on board any of these ships, then the date of any approved disability will be retroactive to the date of that claim. USS Long Beach (CLGN-160/CGN-160/CGN-9) was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser in the United States Navy. Mrs. Craig BOSTS-11827. Mrs. Craig Hosmer, ship's Sponsor; William E. Lemos in command. While the VA completed scanning, the National Archives continues to process the images from the VA in . Task Force 1 left Gibraltar on July 31, sailed down the Atlantic Ocean and then around Africa, crossed the Indian Ocean, and then to the Pacific Ocean before rounding Cape Horn. Quincy, Mass on 9 September 1961. of 1961. USS LONG BEACH then began a long series of Western Pacific deployments, alternating with periods of maintenance and upkeep. Took part in Operation Sea Orbit and the Vietnam War. Note the Route 3A/Washington 7 November 1974 Sixth West Pacific deployment. Starboard side view while at anchor in Singapore, 11 February She returned to Norfolk 20 December for coastal and Caribbean operations through 28 April 1964 when she sailed for the Mediterranean again to join aircraft carrier USSEnterprise(CVN-65) and guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge, in the formation of the first all nuclearpowered task group on 13 May. From the collection of CDR Thomas B. Ray (USS Ships. Long Beach under construction at Fore River Shipyard 4 August USS Long Beach CGN9N May 68. In October 1965 Hubbard departed for the coast of South Vietnam. Many of these ships were named after American cities, states, and patriotic figures. The ships high box-like superstructure housed the SCANFAR radar system, which comprised of AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 phased array radars. Gradually, and the older classes of LSTs were decommissioned. 1994. Starboard side view at anchor in the Med. Faqs After ending its operations in Vietnam, the ship did escort duty for other warships in the Indian Ocean and in the Western Pacific. worlds first operational nuclear-powered submarine, Humiliated: Russia Tries to Claim Ukraine Launched War Against Us, Putins Big Mistake: Bakhmut Might Actually Be a Big Defeat for Russia in Ukraine, Enter Operation Bolo: The F-4 Phantom Gets Revenge in Vietnam, The Vulcan Bomber Would Have Been Sent to War Against Russia. The force operated in the Mediterranean testing its unique capabilities until 31 July when it sailed under Rear Adm. Bernard M. Strean from Gibraltar on an around-the-world cruise. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Battle Efficiency Award. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. Mk 76 mod 2 Radar Set AN/SPG-55B, Mk 119 mod 2, installed in the first four AN/SPG 55B ships (DLG 18, 20, 23, 24). 203, San Jose, CA 95134 March 1970 Overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. 19 October 1987 Participated in Kuwaiti tanker reflagging and provided anti-aircraft cover during Operation Nimble Archer. For its service in the combat zone, it was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal alongside a Vietnam Campaign Medal. USS Enterprise 8 November 1993 Underway Counter Narcotics Patrol, Caribbean. 25), at top, probably in the Mediterranean Sea in June-July See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page. LONG BEACH then refueled transferring to the Pacific Fleet with a homeport of Long Beach, CA. Required fields are marked *. to her move to Boston for her commissioning. On 13 July 2012, Long Beach was sold at auction,[6] for recycling, as prescribed for nuclear-powered vessels by Code 350, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash. As of May 2018, the inactivated ship's hull and reactor compartments largely remained in long-term storage there. During this tour, Long Beach was responsible for directing the downing of one Soviet-made An-2 'Colt' aircraft that was attempting to engage South Vietnamese naval units. lost there in World War II. These ships were responsible for providing air support, naval gunfire support, and transport for troops and supplies. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 The USS Worden was a guided-missile cruiser that participated in the Vietnam War. Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# KN-9027). [15] In June of the same year, she downed another MIG,[14] this one at 61 miles (98km). (ASSOCIATED PRESS). During these training sessions, the Long Beach was evaluated by both President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. Long Beach, moored at Bethlehem Steel Company, 4 January 1960. If you also served aboard and you remember one of the people below you can click on . The ship also received six Battle Efficiency Ribbons. Nimitz is underway in the 3rd Fleet Area of Operations. USS LONG BEACH was commissioned without any guns aboard. The powerplant enabled the warship to reach a speed of 30 knots, while her range was virtually unlimited. For its service in the combat zone, it was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal alongside a Vietnam Campaign Medal. 7 June 1975 Change of homeport to San Diego, Ca. Enterprise crewmembers are spelling 9 December 1967 Present at Long Beach to welcome. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. USS Duncan (DD-874) operated on Long Tau River and Rung Sat Special Zone during . as the Weymouth Fore River. (CVAN 65) underway in formation with USS Long Beach (CGN USS McCaffery DD860 3.4mb. Did you know you can research ships and add your own research to our site? She was discontinued on 2 July 1994 (in Norfolk) and officially retired on 1 May 1995. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical In April 1964, the Long Beach steamed to the Mediterranean to be a part of the formation of the first task group that was all nuclear-powered. In 1991, the vessel participated in Operation Fiery Vigil, which was focused on the evacuation of American servicemen from the Clark Air Base and from the U.S. The Long Beach had been refueled during her 1970, 1980, and 1992 refits. Long Beach, CA 8/30/1968 CREDIT: Neil Leifer. The following conditions are presumptive to those who the Department of Veterans Affairs has conceded Agent Orange exposure and herbicide exposure to. when located. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. USS Enterprise These photos were taken at Bethlehem Steel Company, probably just prior In late 1993 and into 1994 USS LONG BEACH performed her "twilight tour" with deployments in Central America and the Caribbean in a Counter Narcotics role. LONG BEACH was first assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. By the 1990s, nuclear power was deemed too expensive to use on surface ships smaller than an aircraft carrier in view of defense budget cutbacks after the end of the Cold War. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The world's first nuclear-powered surface fighter was the USS Long Beach (CGN-9). Same as Mod 0, but as installed in USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9), and the computer was a Mk 119 mod 1. Disclaimer This list is NOT yet complete. The warship was updated in the late 1970s and later operated as part of the UN task force during Operation Desert Storm. 2 x Standard ER missile launchers (replacing Terrier missile launchers). Those enlisted in the Navy, however, faced a significantly higher level of exposure since the U.S. Navy was acquiring huge quantities of asbestos, especially in 1939 when the United States military in general increased the production of weapons and military equipment in preparation of the outbreak of World War II. at high tide after christened the USS Long Beach, here today. She was the only ship of her class. Find Uss Long Beach stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Modernized in the 1950s, Shangri-La later served extensively in the Atlantic and Mediterranean . The photos below were taken by me and show the hull of the LONG BEACH laid-up at Bremerton, Wash., on March 14, 2010. In addition, two Phalanx CIWS close-in weapon systems were installed, along with two Harpoon surface-to-surface missile (SSM) launchers on the fantail. Other logs from 1776-1922 may be also found in our holdings of the. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. The ship was constructed by Bath Iron Works, a shipbuilding company. Degrees (0-180) and decimal minutes (0 to 59.9999) up to 4 decimal places. This event marked the "official" start of the Vietnam Conflict. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 USS LONG BEACH, the third ship in the Navy to bear the name, was the first nuclear powered surface warship in the world and the first large combatant in the US Navy with its main battery consisting entirely of guided missiles. [citation needed], After overhaul and installation of new equipment at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Long Beach again trained in the Caribbean, and then sailed 6 August 1963 to join the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean for peacekeeping operations. From the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. March 1983. The USS Long Beach was most notably involved in missions during the Vietnam War. She was stationed in Southeast Asia in 1967 and 1968 during the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975), where her advanced technology could make a big difference. are parked in an arrowhead arrangement. Between 28 December and 6 January 1962 she conducted operational tests of her missiles off Puerto Rico, then sailed for Bremerhaven, Germany, arriving 15 January for courtesy calls in north European ports.